‘Build a Library’ project brings reading corners to government schools

The aim of the club is to contribute to society through its projects in the fields of sustainability, education, sanitation, and health. Over the years, RCM NextGen has primarily concentrated on empowering the youth. Driven by this objective, they started a project called ‘Build a Library’, which is aimed at providing children in underprivileged schools across Chennai with infrastructure for libraries and extracurricular activities.

“We believe that the best form of investment in this day and age is investing in one’s self, and reading voraciously is the key to fuelling one’s knowledge. Keeping this in mind, we decided to adopt a few government schools in Chennai and set up libraries in them. We are planning to set up five libraries, and so far, we have opened two at Kannagi Nagar Primary School and Panchayat Union School in Kolapakkam,” says Arbaaz Tareen, President of RCM Next Gen.

After obtaining permissions from the school authorities, the club takes up a room in the school and refurbishes the space. “When we decided to bring in a different look to the interiors of the school libraries, one of our members referred about the Aravani Art Project. It is an NGO that focuses on empowering the transgender community by providing them employment in creative spaces.

“Along with a few volunteers from the club, members from the transgender community, who are part of the Aravani Art Project, also joined in painting the libraries,” he says.

The books in the library are segregated based on the age groups of students. The club has collected the books through various donation drives. “We are committed to helping out as many schools around Chennai by building libraries, classrooms and sports complexes. We also want to plant trees to increase the green cover around the city,” Arbaaztells DT Next.